True to his promise that he will not only look into the welfare of the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) but also of its employees, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Conrado Estrella III announced recently that he would provide educational assistance to support the college education of grown-up sons and daughters of DAR employees, the fund for it would be drawn from his first salary.

Estrella announced that he is giving away his first month’s salary for the said college educational assistance program through draw lots to be conducted during the flag-raising ceremony, this Monday, August 1, 2022.

Priority beneficiaries who will be provided with the college educational assistance program will be solo parent-employees who are supporting children at college levels.

The former lawmaker from Pangasinan is yet to complete his first month in office as DAR Secretary, but he is already fast becoming the “DARling of the DAR community” for his generosity.

Estrella assumed the top post of the DAR during the turnover ceremony last July 4 at the DAR Gymnasium, during which he showed a glimpse of his kindness when he announced that his administration had set aside a P5-million fund for the medical subsidy of DAR employees and their immediate family members.

In Special Order No. 03, series of 2022, Estrella stressed that the Medical Assistance Program “may vary but may not exceed P20,000 per patient at any time.”

The medical assistance program is open to all regular and contractual employees whose salary or remuneration is P20,000 and below. Job order laborers, who have worked continuously for the Department for at least two years are also included and can also avail themselves of the said program.

Estrella said the program covers “a percentage of the cost of essential and life-saving medicines and other medical products and services as prescribed and recommended by the DAR medical consultant for out-patients and attending physician for in-patients.”